3 Things To Do Before Planning Your 2019 Goals

3 Things To Do Before Planning Your 2019 Goals - Brian Tracy

The novelty of things like New Year’s resolutions are amusing approaches setting goals. But, the inherent problem is that this type of off-the-cuff goal setting doesn’t usually entail a tremendous amount of planning. That’s generally why the vast majority of resolutions are not actualized.

If you have an image of where you want to be 10 years from now and genuinely want to get there, the journey begins by laying the groundwork for your goal setting in 2019.

Having a 10-year plans starts with having a 1-year program that sets realistic expectations and connects the present with the future.

Consider taking inventory about where you are regarding life goals today and ask yourself fundamental questions such as the following.

Where am I today with my finances?
What is my current lifestyle situation?
How solid are my health and well-being?
How far have I progressed in my professional life?

It’s important to be realistic about where you are in terms of personal, financial and professional growth.

Where you are today is just one place you’ve gotten to through thousands of small steps.

With a concrete understanding of your current growth, you have set a benchmark from which to measure the time and effort it will take to reach your long-term goals.

Consider the following steps to stay on the path you set.

1. Set Goals That Have A Broad Life Purpose

Owning a large-screen TV isn’t a purposeful long-term goal. Material items are merely a matter of earning the cash to buy them.

But the financial aspect that underpins the idea of lifestyle-enhancing purchases may have a higher purpose.

Generating more income through a promotion at work or improving your business’ profitability can allow you the ability to enjoy more leisure goods and time.

Increased wealth, therefore, is a solid example of setting a goal with greater purpose.

Outside the financial realm, broad goals could include improved physical health through diet and fitness, better spiritual and mental well-being through yoga and meditation, or strengthening a relationship through renewed bonding.

Life goals are about YOUR life.

2. Make Your Goals Real

One of the tried-and-true ways to make something real is to write it down.

There’s something about the human condition that we say lots of things, but once they are written down, they have been ushered into the world.

We put wisdom into books, write down our laws and spiritual beliefs. This is the space to make your goals real as well.

Start by creating a draft of your 5-year and 10-year goals.

Take some time to reread this manifesto and refine it.

Now go back and start building specific short-term goals.

Define what you hope to achieve in 2019, and each consecutive year.

Follow that up with lists of tools you will need to acquire to conclude each shorter step successfully.

Include goal-affirming expectations and even monthly to-do lists.

As you move through the process, take the time to take stock in your progress and reassess what is working and what changes can help improve your goal achievement.

What you are doing is taking an image of where you want to be a decade from now and creating a reasonably flexible roadmap to get there.

3. Share Your Goals

There are multiple reasons why sharing your long- and short-term goals with friends and loved ones can prove fruitful.

On the one hand, relaying your life path with others takes it to another level.

People will naturally circle back and check-in with you about progress.

Sharing your growth can inspire others and yourself.

Knowing people are interested can help to improve daily motivation because you will want to demonstrate that you can achieve.

Another primary reason that sharing your goals may prove beneficial is that you never know who will help you in your journey.

There are wonderful people all around us engaged in things we don’t ordinarily know.

Someone connected to your life could emerge as a game-changer in becoming the person you envision.

But for now, start with foundational steps and create a determined 2019 plan of action.

If you need help getting started and staying consistent with your goals, check out my free SMART Goals Template below. Learn how to implement SMART goals and get on the fast-track to success!